We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Joana Santos Barbosa about their original and creative Armchair design work. Joana Santos Barbosa is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original armchair works.
Joana Santos Barbosa ("JSB") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Niemeyer II Armchair. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
JSB : The rounded forms of the Niemeyer II armchair are influenced by the House of Canoas designed by the Brazilian Architect Oscar Niemeyer in 1951. The modern flat roof offers its flowing forms to the round seat. The backward movement of the curve that frames a large granite boulder is recreated by the location of the diagonal seams that flow all around the arms and seat of the armchair. Seen from above, it really recreates the exact movement into the seat.
JSB : Being influenced by the assumptions of modernist architecture such as freedom of forms and volumetric organicity, the goal was to create a free design. The design itself was easily created, however, the production required many adjustments to be made until the complete rounded image could be achieved.
JSB : The Niemeyer II armchair already is one of the best-sellers among my designs. I believe that, being an award-winning design, this beautiful armchair will be placed in so many more interiors around the world.
JSB : The Niemeyer II armchair was born out of the design of my original armchair named Niemeyer. Both armchairs have the same design principles. The first took about a year to be fully developed and this version was less than that, as my team learned a lot from the first experience.
JSB : I had a clear image in my mind that easily was transformed into a design.
JSB : The Niemeyer II armchair is one of the best-sellers among my designs and is produced by my team, located in the city of Porto in the north of Portugal. We sell this armchair all over the World.
JSB : Being obsessed by a particular idea is what makes me create all of my designs. In this case, it was a particular movement of a modernist rooftop.
JSB : I’m not much influence about design. I’m more interested in other sources such as art, architecture, music and mother nature.
JSB : Customers around the world that look for exquisite luxury pieces with an effortless sophisticated vibe.
JSB : I draw my designs mostly on paper and computer. However, no 3D tools were used to develop this armchair. The prototype evolution occurred at the factory with real scale models.
JSB : The Niemeyer II is a luxurious armchair that catches the eye of the public, being both a minimal design, yet a statement piece.
JSB : The Niemeyer II armchair is produced by my team of talented Portuguese artisans. They are the ones who make my goals come true by applying traditional techniques and so much knowledge into the production process.
JSB : No so much. The Niemeyer II armchair was completely developed by local artisans, using the knowledge of traditional techniques both in woodwork as in upholstery.
JSB : Challenges are part of the design process and a completely round armchair as Niemeyer II is no exception. Inside, the wooden structure presents the necessary complexity for its clean exterior appearance. The construction process included several adjustments, both in the wooden structure and in the exact collation of the seams, to reach the final design, in which we find a total simplicity. Another anticipated challenge was related to the stability of the chair. By reducing the contact of the base with the floor we were able to offer an enormous freedom to the design. However, several improvements have been defined for its stability. This armchair is also available with a swivel option.
JSB : The Niemeyer II armchair is an iconic creation among my designs and features as one of the best-sellers. Winning an international design competition creates the right awareness around the design.
JSB : Well, what I’m reminded each time I create a new design; that perseverance is such an important quality!
